Echols County Background Check

An Echols County background check goes through the Sheriff's Office in Statenville, the county seat. Sheriff Randy Courson heads the office and manages criminal record requests for this small south Georgia county. Echols County is one of the least populated counties in the entire state, sitting along the Florida state line. Background check records here come from local arrest logs, court data from the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, and statewide databases run by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Despite its small size, the same state laws and procedures apply when you need to search for criminal history in Echols County.

Echols County Sheriff Background Check

Sheriff Randy Courson runs the Echols County Sheriff's Office. The mailing address is PO Box 189, Statenville, GA 31648. Call 229-559-5603 to ask about background check procedures, fees, and office hours. The office performs name-based searches using local records and the Georgia Crime Information Center database. Most people walk in to make their request. Bring a valid photo ID along with your full name and date of birth. The staff runs your name through the system and provides a report of any criminal history on file.

Echols County is one of the smallest counties in Georgia by population. The sheriff's office is a small operation, which can work in your favor since there is typically less of a wait. A basic name check might come back the same day. Searches that need state-level data could take a few business days. The office also manages jail booking records and can tell you about active warrants in the county.

With a small staff, hours may be limited. Call before you drive out there.

Criminal Records in Echols County

Echols County falls under the Alapaha Judicial Circuit, which also covers Atkinson, Berrien, Clinch, Cook, and Lanier counties. Criminal cases from the superior court become public record. The Echols County Clerk of Superior Court in Statenville keeps files on felony charges, misdemeanor cases, plea deals, trial outcomes, and sentencing. Visiting the courthouse is the best way to review these records. Because the county is so small, the volume of court cases is low compared to most other Georgia counties, and the clerk's office can usually help you find what you need without much delay.

Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-34, the GBI can share criminal history records with private citizens when certain conditions are met. Not all records are available. Juvenile cases are protected by law. Sealed records do not appear in standard searches. The First Offender Act allows people who complete their sentence to restrict their conviction from public view. So an Echols County background check may not show every case that went through the court system.

State Search Options for Echols County

You do not need to go to Statenville to run an Echols County background check. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has online search tools that cover all 159 counties. The Georgia Felon Search is $15 per search and lets you check for felony convictions by name. Results come up right away if there is a match in the system. The tool only shows felony convictions. Misdemeanors, arrests without a conviction, and cases still pending do not appear in the results.

For a deeper search, the GAPS fingerprint system through IdentoGo checks both GBI and FBI databases. Fingerprint-based searches give better accuracy because they match on prints instead of names, which avoids false results from common or similar names. Results usually come back in 24 to 48 hours. The cost is higher than a name search, but the results are more complete. Echols County residents will likely need to travel to Valdosta or another nearby city for fingerprinting, since IdentoGo does not have a location in every small town.

More details on GBI services can be found at gbi.georgia.gov/services.

The GBI website gives access to statewide criminal history databases that hold records from Echols County and every other Georgia county.

Echols County Check Fees

A name-based search at the Echols County Sheriff's Office runs between $15 and $25. Call 229-559-5603 to confirm the exact fee. The state felon search is a flat $15 online. Fingerprint-based GAPS checks cost more because they cover both state and FBI databases and include a separate service fee at the fingerprinting site. The sheriff's office most likely accepts cash and money orders. Card payment options may be limited in a county this small.

Check on fees and payment methods before your visit to make sure you come prepared.

How to Request Echols County Records by Mail

You can send a background check request by mail if Statenville is too far to visit. Write to the Echols County Sheriff's Office at PO Box 189, Statenville, GA 31648. Include your full name, date of birth, a copy of your photo ID, and a money order for the processing fee. Do not mail cash. The office processes the request and sends results to your address. Under O.C.G.A. § 35-3-37, Georgia law limits how criminal history data can be used. Make sure your request is for an approved purpose.

Allow one to two weeks for the whole process, including mailing time in both directions and processing at the office. Small county offices may take a bit longer if staffing is thin.

Echols County Contact and Resources

The Georgia Sheriffs' Association directory includes contact info for Echols County and all other Georgia county sheriffs.

• Mailing Address: PO Box 189, Statenville, GA 31648
• Phone: 229-559-5603
• Sheriff: Randy Courson
• County Seat: Statenville

Echols County is on the Georgia-Florida border. If your search extends into Florida, you will need to contact agencies in that state separately. The Echols County Sheriff's Office only has access to Georgia records. For anything within the county, though, Sheriff Courson's office is the right place to start your background check.

Nearby Counties

Echols County shares borders with a few south Georgia counties. These pages may help if you need to check records in a neighboring area.